As the man who transformed in Bharat's electoral practices, I am astonished that he thinks reservation is a rather unimportant abuse.
This is rather less surprising for the simple reason that though he checked the most blatent abuse of the electoral process using his administrative abilities, he could do little to change politics itself. In that sense he is not very well qualified to pass judgement on the politics that is being practiced. Reservation is one sympton of the deep malaise that afflicts Bharat's politics. Those are things Sheshan was unable to change or cure.
The very many young people who have looked up to him for his great achievements are going to be disappointed at his comments. I agree with them that the way reservation has been used as a political tool exposes the bankruptcy of Bharat's politics. This politics has entrenched false promises when delivery when the proper exercise of a true democracy would aim to deliver the required places in Bharat's institutions. One writer has commented that Seshan's Bhraminical backround inclines him to a politics that constrains any other caste from challenging the Bhramins supposed supremacy, hence reservations has served them well enough. Politics should rise above the politics of caste, and reservation is the pillar that ensures it stays at its heart. I agree with the students that their admission should entirely on the merits. It requires a fundamental channge in institutions to ensure this.
Selection of students should be merit-based, not caste-based. Dont know how many politicians have ever been to college to understand how difficuilt it is to get a seat. Backward classes obviously would support reservation jus because they want things easy. Someone who is willing to work just as hard does not need reservation, there have been so many instances of ppl frm backward class getting through purely based on their merit, without using their backward class status for it.
RE:Reservation
by on Jan 29, 2007 06:25 PM Permalink
Ashish, you are a smart guy ! you speak not only for your kind of ppl & but at the same breath declare what other side ideally act. How about capitation fee ?? Income should not be a determining factor whether someone should have an opportunity to go to college. What do you say !!
RE:RE:Reservation
by rahul malhotra on Jan 30, 2007 10:36 AM Permalink
Agree with both of u, for the ones who cant afford education, be it any caste, make their education free, but dont compromise on quality, and give seats only to the merit holders, irrespective of caste.
Feelings expressed by Mr. Seshan is not unexpected. Being a BRAHMIN himself , he only voiced the opinion of a major section of the upper castes thinks today . The history of casteism is very badly described by this section of the so- called upper castes . The wealth gap is not just a story of merit and achivement, it's also a story of historical legacy of caste divison in the society. Caste is associated today with class in our country. Casteism is not natural, it's well thought out and planned Mr. Seshan......
RE:Reservation --- A must in the current scenarios
by Ramya Shivkumar on Mar 02, 2007 08:50 AM Permalink
Op Suman,
I am stupified by ur comments. Please access the whole country and you will see that Caste and status (financial capacity) are two different things. I know alot of my frds who are SC and are stinking rich. These frds are now in professional courses tahnsk to the quota system and a pathetic in studies, But I am sure they will do well in life because their fathers are from rich families. However Let me point out that I also have some SC and oBC frds who are so smart and intelligent. And at the same time I also know my brahmin frds whose fathers are so poor that they are not able to finance their education in college and hence these frds study in eve college and work during the day!!!. SO caste by no means refelcts the status of a person anymore!!!!
RE:Reservation --- A must in the current scenarios
by Sidhartha Agarwal on Feb 01, 2007 12:50 AM Permalink
Wonder if you would react the same if your caste was included in the general category. Then, probably you would go ahead and immolate yourself. You obviously belong to the creamy layer and want to milk the benefit of reservation to the max. How can caste be same as class? This is sheer stupidity. I am willing to give up my caste and change my name. Give me all your wealth.
The quota issue, though a hot issue of the last year, discussing about these wouldnot help much, to solve the problems of the country. Get the judiciary and law enforcing agents transparent and responsible, 85 percent of the country's problem will be over. Isuues like reservation, make people more confused and as a result of that, politicians play avery safe game in this country.
Yes, I agree all the efforts of the students have gone in vain because of reservations approval. This the reason india is still a developing country. Because of politics we are scruing ourself.
Why am I being discriminated from the rest, just because i belong to the forward caste? Why does our constitution talk about equality then? Why am i being denied my right to good quality education? This is excatly about not studying in Dr.Ambedkar Medical college, it is about studying at AIIMS. Not in periyar university but, IIT. Why cant i study in a good univ/college if i have the score???? Oh ok , i should be backward / a tribe to be successful in this country (that talks about equality).
Mr Seshan this is not a storm in a teacup, but simple racial(caste) discrimination. Oh phuleese the dalit atrocities is the handiwork of OBC's & MBC'c not the OC's.
RE:Why not make a fuss about it
by biz Narayan on Jan 25, 2007 02:54 PM Permalink
Thats because the forward caste or in general hindus said nothing to the colonial knowldge structure, when they manufactured false history of Aryan dravidian and taught it to millions of Indians, just for these purpose. Looking at an oppurtinity in IIT is not enough, a firm character must be able to oppose when millions of your breathens were brainwashed into aryan dravidian race and all such stuff. However people found oppurtinities, including some rediff journos. Why not now they evaluate in terms of german racial formulations ? WHy are they silent after supporing thappers ? Doesn't bashing their country secularly/racially pay enough oppurtinities ?
I think Reservation will never do good to the people for whom it is made. Reservatiowill do good to the Politicians' vote Bank only, I fact the Politicall do not want the ST/Sc or OBC to upgrade because if are realy educated and qualified they will never cast their vote to them at any cost. So reservation is a paper tiger to accomodate the people of the politician\\\\\\\'s choice in the ducational Institution and the Job. The reservation chapter should be scrapped totally from the Constitution and insteed a chapter of Admission and Job on MERIT should be made mandatory irrespective of the class of the person.
RE:Reservation
by biz Narayan on Jan 25, 2007 02:42 PM Permalink
Reservation obviously does good to whom it is intended, atleast in short term, in terms of money by redistrubuting it.
However british and christians gave these Brahmin hating to stop the total earning power, see the kind of people argue for reservation - after getting preferential treatment for 50 years. Would they have got it in Pakisthani tribal area ?
RE:RE:Reservation
by salvaji ranjith on Jan 31, 2007 02:39 PM Permalink
We can see how prejudiced you are ...in all your answers i talked about past strucures, u r the kind of people who carry the hatred to next generations.
I have had reservations about reservation itself,about those crap minds that think about reservation and finally myself because i am a part of the system!
Reservation is based on the notion of acceptance of caste-system which is the root of this evil!
So it all boils down to:"whether i hold the snake with my hands or a pair of handlers!"
The answer is simple:u need not handle the snake!,let it go,be safe and sleep sound!Simple!
I say give reservation, but not on caste or religion basis. Give it on need basis. remove creamy layer from reservation across the board and see, these only politicians will say reservation is not required. The bootom line is that these politicians don't wan't poor people to come up, if poor people will come up they will ask for accountability, which no politician likes to be held responsible for. So that's why they are playing this divide and rule policy.
